HEAVY HEARTS: A UConn football player consoles a teammate at the start of a practice this week as the team tries to play in honor of starting cornerback Jasper Howard, who was murdered at Homecoming party early Sunday morning.AP

Connecticut basketball coach Jim Calhoun has a theme for most practices. Saturday it was this:

“Nothing in life is guaranteed.”

“The thought behind that is we have today to be the best team we can be, to grow as much as you can and you can’t get this day back,” Calhoun told The Post. “[Football coach] Randy [Edsall] has a saying, ‘Play today’s game like it’s the last game you’ll ever play.’ ”

Jasper Howard, 20, played his last football game Saturday afternoon.

At a Homecoming party that night outside the Connecticut student union, he was stabbed to death in an altercation between football players and several men, who are not believed to be UConn students.

He leaves behind a pregnant girlfriend, who is left to bring a child into the world without the support of her soul mate.

He leaves behind what one administrator described as a somber campus. He leaves behind grieving teammates and coaches as well as grieving athletes on other UConn teams.

Howard was friends with several members of the women’s basketball team. He played pickup games with them.

The Huskies were scheduled to practice Sunday, but women’s coach Geno Auriemma said he could hear the sobs emanating from the locker room and knew Sunday had become a day not to practice or rest, but to grieve.

Howard leaves behind the hopes and dreams that is the birthright of every young person.

“One of the things I told my team was that I didn’t know why something like this happened,” Auriemma said. “You almost never understand why. It shakes you.”

“I have a son at St. Joseph’s and I never thought about where he might be at 12:30-1 in the morning because I trust him and you have a feeling that college is safe,” added Auriemma. “Now I darn well find myself worrying. It will take time for us to heal.”

The healing process may be helped tomorrow when the Huskies play at West Virginia, the first game they’ll play without Howard, a starting cornerback and exceptional punt returner.

For a few hours, perhaps, the Connecticut coaches and players may get a timeout from their unfathomable grief.

“There’s nobody from an emotional standpoint who is not ready to go and play,” Edsall told reporters in Connecticut.

The players will wear Howard’s initials on their helmets. They’ll take Howard’s helmet and jersey on the trip.

West Virginia coach Bill Stewart called UConn officials Sunday and asked it would be acceptable to have his players wear Howard’s No.6 on their helmets. The gesture was appreciated and permission granted.

There will be a moment of silence before the game and the two teams, linked arm and arm, will meet at midfield for handshake of solidarity.

The Huskies will fly to Florida after the game for a memorial service Sunday and attend Howard’s funeral Monday at the New Birth Baptist Church in his hometown of Miami.

Connecticut officials were finalizing plans for two fundraising projects. Sources told The Post that several Big East teams had inquired about making a donation.

Howard’s teammates will honor him the best way they know how tomorrow. They’ll play a game their fallen teammate loved. They’ll play hard. The salt of tears will mix with salt of sweat.

Maya Moore, a star on the women’s team, was asked if Howard could hoop.

“He had some game,” she said. “But when I think of Jasper, I think of his smile.”